1996–97 Watford F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Watford F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Watford
1996–97 season
ChairmanJack Petchey
ManagerKenny Jackett
StadiumVicarage Road
Second Division13th
FA CupFourth round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophySouthern semi finals
Top goalscorerMooney (13)
Average home league attendance8,894

Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, although Jackett oversaw a long unbeaten stretch of results, Watford were unable to mount a serious promotion challenge and finished a disappointing campaign in 13th place – Watford's lowest position in the league structure since the 1970s. During the close season, Jackett was demoted to the position of first-team coach, with Graham Taylor once again becoming manager.[1]

Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League § Second Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
11 Gillingham 46 19 10 17 60 59 +1 67
12 Walsall 46 19 10 17 54 53 +1 67
13 Watford 46 16 19 11 45 38 +7 67
14 Millwall 46 16 13 17 50 55 −5 61
15 Preston North End 46 18 7 21 49 55 −6 61
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Watford's score comes first[3]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996BournemouthA2–17,672Connolly, White
24 August 1996MillwallH0–29,495
27 August 1996Plymouth ArgyleH0–27,349
31 August 1996Crewe AlexandraA2–03,655Palmer, Mooney
7 September 1996Stockport CountyH1–07,208Mooney (pen)
10 September 1996Notts CountyA3–23,660Mooney (2), Andrews
14 September 1996Bristol RoversA1–06,276White
21 September 1996Peterborough UnitedH0–012,007
28 September 1996Shrewsbury TownA0–13,655
1 October 1996Preston North EndH1–06,434Palmer
5 October 1996York CityA2–15,232Andrews, Penrice
12 October 1996WrexhamH1–18,441Mooney (pen)
15 October 1996BurnleyH2–26,450Andrews, R Johnson
19 October 1996BuryA1–14,092Andrews
26 October 1996BlackpoolA1–16,072Mooney
29 October 1996Luton TownH1–114,109Bazeley
2 November 1996BrentfordH2–011,448Gibbs, Mooney
9 November 1996Rotherham UnitedA0–03,619
19 November 1996Wycombe WanderersH1–07,657Connolly
30 November 1996BlackpoolH2–212,017Millen, Noel-Williams
3 December 1996Bristol CityA1–19,097Noel-Williams
14 December 1996WalsallH1–13,674R Johnson
21 December 1996GillinghamH0–07,809
26 December 1996Notts CountyH0–09,065
18 January 1997Preston North EndA1–18,735Mooney
27 January 1997Luton TownA0–07,428
1 February 1997Rotherham UnitedH2–010,657Bazeley, Slater
8 February 1997BrentfordA1–18,679Scott
22 February 1997Wycombe WanderersA0–08,438
25 February 1997Shrewsbury TownH2–06,378Phillips, Bazeley
1 March 1997Bristol CityH3–08,539Phillips (3)
4 March 1997Peterborough UnitedA1–24,200Mooney
8 March 1997GillinghamA1–37,385Scott
15 March 1997WalsallH1–07,818Mooney
18 March 1997Bristol RoversH1–06,139Mooney
22 March 1997MillwallA1–08,713Mooney
29 March 1997BournemouthH0–110,019
31 March 1997Plymouth ArgyleA0–06,836
5 April 1997Crewe AlexandraH0–112,441
8 April 1997ChesterfieldA0–04,258
12 April 1997York CityH4–07,645Ramage (2), Mooney, Easton
14 April 1997Stockport CountyA0–17,164
19 April 1997WrexhamA1–33,437Ramage
24 April 1997ChesterfieldH0–26,411
26 April 1997BuryH0–09,017
3 May 1997BurnleyA1–48,269Millen

FA Cup
Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R117 November 1996Northampton TownA1–07,342Bazeley
R27 December 1996Ashford TownH5–07,590Bazeley (2), Connolly (3)
R321 January 1997Oxford UnitedH2–09,502White, Connolly
R45 February 1997Manchester CityA1–324,031Noel-Williams

League Cup
Main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996WalsallA0–12,659
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996WalsallH2–0 (won 2–1 on agg)5,325Andrews, Porter
R2 1st Leg17 September 1996SunderlandH0–29,136
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1996SunderlandA0–1 (lost 0–3 on agg)10,659

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1996-97 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SR27 January 1997Torquay UnitedH2–12,298Page, Connolly
SQF11 February 1997Bristol CityH2–13,142Andrews, Bazeley
SSF18 February 1997Peterborough UnitedH0–14,941

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Alec Chamberlain
— GK England ENG Kevin Miller
— DF England ENG Darren Bazeley
— DF England ENG Colin Foster
— DF England ENG Nigel Gibbs
— DF England ENG Dominic Ludden
— DF England ENG Keith Millen
— DF Wales WAL Rob Page
— DF England ENG Steve Palmer
— DF England ENG Paul Robinson
— DF England ENG Darren Ward
— MF England ENG Clint Easton
— MF England ENG Richard Flash
— MF Australia AUS Richard Johnson
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Gary Porter
— MF England ENG Craig Ramage
— MF England ENG Stuart Slater
— MF England ENG Steve Talboys
— FW England ENG Wayne Andrews
— FW Republic of Ireland IRL David Connolly[notes 1]
— FW England ENG Nathan Lowndes
— FW England ENG Tommy Mooney
— FW England ENG Gifton Noel-Williams
— FW England ENG Gary Penrice
— FW England ENG Kevin Phillips
— FW England ENG Keith Scott (on loan from Norwich City)
— FW England ENG Devon White

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF England ENG Craig Armstrong (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
— DF England ENG David Holdsworth (to Sheffield United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Craig Ramage (on loan to Peterborough United)

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF England ENG Colin Miles
— DF England ENG David Perpetuini
— DF England ENG Mark Rooney
— MF England ENG Danny Grieves
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Chris Johnson
— FW England ENG Colin Simpson
— MF England ENG Tommy Smith

References
  1. "Rocket man". The Mirror. 13 May 1997.
  2. "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  3. Statto Organisation Ltd. "Watford results for the 1996-1997 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  4. "All Watford players: 1997". 11v11.com.

Notes
  1. Connolly was born in Brent, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in May 1996.
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